Artificial-fuel press



(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1.

G. Y. SMITH.

l ARTIFICIAL FUEL PRESS. No.l 430,701. Patented June 24, 18 0.

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1 Q w a Q n 0* me cams Hans cc., mofmuwa., wnsMlNcrnN, a. e.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. Y. SMITH.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL PRESS.

No. 430,704. Patented June Z4, 1890.

5 sheets-sheet a.

(No Model.)

G. Y. SMITH.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL PRESS.

No. 430,701. Patented June 24, 1890.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. Y. SMITH.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL PRESS.

N0. 430,701.. y .PatentedJune 24, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet y5.

G. Y. sMlTH.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL PRESS.

No. 430,701.l Patented June 24, 1890.

'UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE Y. SMITH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL-FU EL PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,701, dated June 24, 1890.

Application tiled April 28, 1890. Serial No. 349,815. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Y. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial-Fuel Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

My invention relates to machines for pressing artificial fuel into bricks or blocks. To practically utilize the waste inflammable substances--sueh as the immense piles of coaldross, eulm, or slack-and present the material in proper form for use as fuel, machinery of various kinds has been devised.

The object of my invention is to improve heretofore-existing devices and to produce a machine in which the material can be agglomerated into blocks under great pressure, so that it will burn evenly and will not disintegrate even when employed in furnaces having aforced draft, such as are common in locomotives. Vith this end in view I construct a suitable frame-work, in which are mounted revoluble wheels spaced several feet apart and each provided with a series of molds of any desired form, each mold containing a discharge-piston. Each Wheel rorates around a stationary shaft provided with. a cam which is so located that it will at the proper ltime force the pistons outward to discharge the completed bricks or blocks from the molds. Between the wheels I place a hydranlie press or other suitable device which will cause two pistons to move outward in opposite directions simultaneously andthereby enter a mold of each wheel, which is in line with the pistons, and press the material therein into the desired form. I contemplate the arrangement of a series of mold-wheels side by side in the same frame and of a corresponding number of sets of pistons between the wheels, so that a series of bricks or blocks can be synchronously formed. Gearing and a clutch mechanism are employed, whereby an intermittent rotation will be given the mold-wheels, and each wheel is locked when a mold is in line with a piston by an automatically-acting device, which will be hereinafter fully described. Mounted over each Wheel is a hopper containing the material to lbe formed into bricks or blocks, and within the hopper is a screw or other force-feed device. At one side of and below each hopper is a wheel provided with a series of pressingsurfaces, one of which enters each mold after it has been filled from the hopper and imparts a preliminary pressure to the contents thereof. Y

Any form of mechanism necessary to impart a synchronous motion in opposite directions to the pressing-pistons may be placed between the wheels, and I have shown a hydraulic press, a right and left hand screw, and a toggle-joint as some of the devices which can be advantageously employed, although it is obvious that other systems of levers ora steam-actuated p ress could be used with equal facility. In the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals are placed ou like parts through- Zout the several views, Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal vertical section of a preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial transverse section of a double machine. Figs. 8, 4, 5, and 6 are detail views hereinafter referred to, and Figs. 7 and 8 are views of modifications hereinafter described.

1 is the frame of the machine, provided with supporting-legs 2.

3 3 are hoppers attached to the frame.

4 4 are shafts, each carrying a spiral feedplate 5. 6 6 are bevel-gears on shafts44, intermeshed with like gears 7 7 on a shaft 8, provided with a driving-pulley 9.

1X 1 are standards rising from the frame, in which the shaft 8 is journaled.

10 10 are wheels, each provided with a series of molds 11, and 12 12 are pistons seated p 18 is a sleeve on shaft l5, having a spline 19, and 20 is the movable part of the clutch, movable back and forth on the spline and sleeve.

2l is a power-pulley fixed on the sleeve.

22 is a gear intermeshing With gear 16, and 23 is a second gear in mesh with a large gear 24 on a hub attached to Wheel l0.

25 is a gear in mesh with driving-gear l6 and also with a large gear 24 on the hub of gear 10.

26 is a part of the frame-work in which the shafts of the gears 16, 22, 23, and 25 are journaled.

27 27X are wheels carried by the shafts of gears 23 25, respectively, and provided with surfaces 28, which successively enter the molds and impart a preliminary pressure to the material just after each mold has been filled from the hopper.

29 .is ahydraulic press of any approved pattern, which is mounted on the frame, and 30 is a pump for forcing liquid to such press.

31 is a supply-pipe for the pump, leading to a suitable tank or other liquid-reservoir.

32 is the pipe leading from the pump to the press, and 34 are eccentrics for operating the pump, mounted on a shaft 35, having a driving-pulley 36 and loose pulley 36X.

37 38 are pistonsof the press, provided with pressing-plungers 39 40, respectively, of a size proper to enter the molds of the wheels.

4l and 42 are projections depending from the pistons, and 43 44 are cords passing over sheaves 45 46 and attached to a weight 47, which tends to pull the pistons Within the press.

'48 is the passage for the escape of liquid fromthe press, and 49 is a valve held up by a' cup 50.

5l is a three-armed lever pivoted beneath the press, the short arm 52 of which bears against a projection on the under side of the cup 50, while its long arm 53 is equipped with annadjustable' weight 54, which can be set to permit the desired pressure to be given the pistons of the press.

5l is a bar connecting the depending arms 56 of the levers 5l when a series of wheels and presses is employed.

'56) is a pair of nippers pivoted on the side of the press,.and 57 is a spring which tends to keep the jaws thereof closed.

Vhen the pistons are withdrawn within the press, projections 58 strike thelong arms of the nippers and cause the jaws thereof to open, as shown in Fig. 5; but as soon as the pistons begin to move away from each other spring 57 immediately closes said jaws, and they will then be in position to catch andretain the long arm 53 of lever 5l when it is raised by the pressure of liquid against cup 50. In order that the pistons may act with accuracy When a mold on each wheel is 'in line with each of them, it is necessary to stop the driving-gearing and to lock the and movable in a guide wheels against all possibility of movement during the pressing operation. In order to accomplish this result, I have devised an automatically-acting clutch and lock mechanism, which will now be described.

Each mold-Wheel is provided on its outer side with a laterally-projecting rim 10X, in which is formed a series of open notches 59 59, one for each mold. Attached to each piston is an arm 37 38X.

60 is a horizontal extension or platform projecting from the press in the single machine, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

6l 6l are brackets or standards on the platform.

62 62 are bell-crank levers, each provided with a lug 62X, pivoted at 63 63 to the'vrespective brackets.

64 64 are dogs pivoted to the' levers, and 65 65 are springs, one for-each dog.

66 66 are locking plungers or latches articulated to the levers v62 62 and-movable through housings 67 67 onthe extension 60.

68 is a guideway on extension 60 for two Abars 6969', attached by fixed bolts, respectively, to the arms 37 38X andv provided with cam-shaped lugs 69X 692.

70 70 are toggle-links articulated tothe bars 69 69.

7l is a slide connected to the toggle-links 72, having an open slot 72X.

73 is a pin capable of a vertical mov-ement in the slide 7l, said pin beingthreaded at its lower end and provided with a nut 74. (See Fig. 2.)

75 is a chamber cored out of the frame- LWork beneath guide 7 2l and having a curved upper Wall 75X.

7 6 is a platform resting on spring v7 7, which :presses it against pin 73.

78 is a bracket projecting from the frame, in which is pivoted a lever 7.9, connected with the movable part 20 of the clutch.

8O is a spring connected with an arm of the bracket and with the clutch-lever and normally tending to throw the clutch out of `engagement.

8l is a lug, and 82 a spring-pressed pivoted dog on lever 79.

89 is a carrier-belt located below the wheels.

Having described this form of my invention, the operation thereof is `as follows:l Material to be molded into condition suitable for fuel is placed in the hoppers andis intermiXed and at the same time fed downward by' the feed-screws therein, thereby filling the mold cavities or pockets in each Wheel 'that are beneath the hopper. started and the pistons 37 38 are forced in opposite directions until the pressure is suf- Iicient to force downward relief-valve 49 and cup 50 against the action of weighted lever 5l. As the valve descends, the lever 51 will turn on its pivot,thereby raising .its long arm (carrying weight 54) from the position The pump is then IOO IIO

shown in Fig. in full lines to that represented by dotted lines in the same iigure and permitting the barbed jaws of the nippers to snap behind said arm and hold `the weight temporarily in an elevated position. The pistons are now pulled within the cylinder by cords 43 44 and weight 47, and in their retrogression arms 37X 38X cause the bars G9 G9 to actuate the toggles 70 and 70 and force slide 7l outward, and the lugs 69 692 come against the pivoted cams 64 64', which are prevented from tipping by lugs 62X, and withdraw the locking-plungers 66 66 from `the notches 59, and thereby release the wheels. As slide 71 moves outward through guide 72 it carries the vertically-movable pin 7 3 with it, and said pin being in contact with dog 82 it forces the pivoted lever 79 to throw clutchhalt` into engagement with the fixed half 17, thus starting the machine, and, through the intermediate gearing, rotating the moldwheels a distance just sufficient to bring another set of filled molds into alignment with the pistons. The extent of rotation of the moldwheels is governed by the movement of the pin 7 3 in the chamber 75 and slot 72X, for as said pin traverses the same it is gradually withdrawn by the curved wall 75X until its `force pivoted levers 62 62 downward and cause them to throw the locking-plungers against the plain portions of the rims of the wheels between the notches in readiness immediately to snap into the notches as soon as they arrive opposite the plungers, and thereby lock the wheels in position. On the return ot' slide 7l to its original position pin 73 will tilt dog 82 on its pivot without actuating lever 7 9, and the cam-lugs 69 692 also act in the same manner on dogs 64 64 when the pistons move outward and it is not desired to actuate the locking-plungers. As the wheels rotate intermittingly, the fixed cams force outward the pistons and cause them to discharge tlie bricks upon the carrier-belt 89.

In the modification represented in Fig. 7 the pistons are shown as actuated bya rightand-left screw S3, driven by a suitable gear 84, the screw engaging with nuts in the pistons.

In Fig. 8 the pistons are represented as actuated by a toggle-joint 85 86, connected to a plunger 87, movable in a guide S8 in the frame. y

In the double arrangement represented in Fig. 2 levers 5l are represented as connected by a link 51X, so that it` the pressure in one cylinder should be greater than that in the other both relief-valves will be synchronously released. In the double arrangement the bed-plate is extended and the pump placed thereon between the cylinders, and it is connected bybranch pipes 32X with each cylinder. v The wheels are also suitably connected together to revolve in unison.

It is obvious that many changes could be made in the construction of the apparatusV known feed device can be placed in the hop- 4 pers as a substitute for the spiral blade shown and described.

It is also obvious that wheels containing a single mold or a less number of molds than those shown and described could be advantageously employed with plungers of a larger size, so that large blocks of material could be formed in the manner clearly indicated.

In practice, when the hydraulic press is used intermediate the wheels, the liquid will be pumped from and discharged into a suitable tanlr located beneath the frame-work, which it is not deemed necessary to illust-rate.

` I-laving thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A machine for pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels and plungers IOO provided with a series of molds or pockets, A

plungers between said Wheels movable synchronously in opposite directions, and dis- IIO charge-pistons in the molds, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A machine for pressing material, comprisin g revoluble mold-wheels, pressin g-plungers located between the wheels and movable synchronously in opposite directions, gearing connecting said wheels, and mechanism for actuating the plungers and for automatically stopping and starting the gearing, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A machine for pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels spaced some distance apart, a hopper for the material located over each wheel, a feed device in the hopper, and pressing-plungers located between the wheels and movable synchronously in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

'(5. A machine for pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels, gearing connecting said wheels, and pressingplungers movable synchronously in opposite directions,

prising revoluble mold-wheels, a hydraulic` cylinder between said wheels, pistons in said cylinder, each carrying a pressing-plunger,

anda pump for forcing liquid into the cylini der, substantially as and for the purpose" specified.

9. lA machine for pressing material, com-4 prising revoluble mold-wheels, a cylinder between the wheels, a pipe for conveying the motive iiuid to the cylinder, and pistons having pressing-plungers mounted in the cylinder and movable synchronously in opposite directions, substantially as and for thev purpose speciiied.

10. A machine for pressing material into the forms of bricks or blocks, comprising revoluble mold-wheels, a cylinder located between the wheels, a pipe for conveying the motive iiuid to the cylinder, pistons movable in opposite directions, a reliefvalve, and means for withdrawing the pistons within the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A machine for pressing material into the form of bricks'or blocks, comprising a pair of revoluble mold-wheels, pressing-plungers between said Wheels, movable synchronously in opposite directions, mechanism for locking the wheels when a mold in each is in alignment with the pistons, and mechanism for intermittingly revolving the wheels, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l2. A machine for pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels, plunger-s between said wheels, and clutch and locking devices actuated by the plungers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. A machine for `pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels, a cylinder located between the wheels, pistons in said cylinder movable synchronously in opposite direction, and a weight for withdrawing the pistons within the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. A machine for pressing material, comprising revoluble mold-wheels, gearing for revolving the same, a-hopper over each wheel containing a suitable device for forcing material into the molds, a device for imparting a preliminary pressure to the material in each mold, and pressing-plungers movable synchronously in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

l5. In a machine for pressing material, the combination, with the mold-wheels and pressing-plungers located between said wheels, of

a driving-shaft,a clutch, and intermediate combination, with the revoluble mold-Wheels and intermediate pressing plungers, of a driving-shaft, a clutch in two halves thereon,

-a clutch-shipping lever, and devices intermediate the plungers and driving-shaft for actuating said lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 1

17. lA machine for pressing material, comprising a series of mold-wheels located adjacent to each other and a series of sets of' pressing-plungers, each set movable synchronously in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

18. In a machine for pressing material, the oombination,with revoluble mold-wheels, each provided with a series of notches, of pressing-plungers located between the wheels, and latches actuated by the plungers to lock the vwheels in position during the pressing operation, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

19. In a machine for pressing material, the

combination, with a driving-shaft, revoluble mold-wheels geared with said shaft, and pressing plungers intermediate the Wheels, of latches for locking the wheels, actuated by the plungers, and a clutch-lever and means for actuating the same, substantially as and fcn the purpose specified.

` 20; In a machine for pressing material, the combination, with revoluble mold-Wheels and pressing-plungers intermediate said Wheels, of locking-latches actuated by the plungers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2l. In a machine for pressing material, the combination, with revoluble mold wheels, each provided with a notched rim, of latches for engaging the notches in said rims, springs for actuating said latches in one direction, pressing-plungers, and devices connected therewith for withdrawing the latches, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

22. The combination, with a revoluble wheel, of mechanism for locking said' wheel, consisting ot' a pivoted lever, a latch carried thereby, a pivoted dog, and a spring bearing against the dog, substantially as and for the purpose specified. y

23. The combination, with revoluble wheels having notched rims, of pivoted levers, latches carried by said levers, a pivoted dog on each lever, and slide-bars provided with lugs for engaging the dogs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

24. The combination, with the revoluble mold-wheels and pressing-pistons intermediate the same, of slide-bars connected to said pistons, a slide movable at right angles to saidy slide-bars and connected therewith, a pin vertically movable inthe slide,adriving ICO IIC)

In testimony whereof I affix my sign alture in l presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE Y. l SMITH.

Vitnesses:

WM. H. BLODGETT, FRANK D. MERCHANT. 

